[Commotion-dev] LibraryBox: filesharing and mesh

Sun Jul 28 09:51:44 UTC 2013

Hello,

On Sun, Jul 28, 2013 at 11:00 AM, Ben West <ben at gowasabi.net> wrote:

> The underlying cool thing is that the proliferation of low-cost, ultra
> small form-factor devices like the TL-MR3020 is enables diverse projects
> such as LibraryBox, Serval's mesh extender, even the mini nodes I'm
> deploying.  Likewise, I do hope s2e finds success in slimming down
> Commotion to run on these boxes (with outboard USB disk), if he hasn't
> already.
>
> Although these different projects may not actually end up sharing the same
> firmware, at least beyond the extent they still derive from OpenWRT, seems
> to me there should be distinct possibility in collaborating over the
> following goals:
>
>    - Improve USB disk support, i.e. to work-around limitation of on-board
>    4Mbyte flash.  That is, what is the correct kernel/module compile recipe,
>    what is the best method or auto-mounting on boot, and how to best do opkg
>    install to ramdisk?
>
>
The solution I would pursue here is a custom openwrt kernel build that
includes the usb storage drivers, and is set to pull root from /dev/sda1.
 I believe this would be fairly simple to do -- just haven't got around to
doing it yet.

>
>    - 2nd external antenna?  These guys<https://apollo.open-resource.org/lab:argus#modifications>may have figured out the original hack for one external antenna, but the
>    lack of an AR9330 datasheet prevents them from using the 2nd antenna output.
>    - Pool funding sources to contract manufacture of a customized version
>    of the TL-MR3020?  I realize Mesh Potato is already pursuing a customized /
>    beefed-up version of a similar TP-Link product, but I wonder if other
>    groups together may be interested in a lighter-weight design.  E.g. not so
>    much additional I/O, but maybe just double the RAM and flash size
>
> The MP2.0 will be pretty close to what you want -- the extra I/O is not
part of the design.

Paul.

>
>    - ?
>    - Brainstorm novel applications that take advantage of these devices
>    running on battery and/or solar power.  Recall the newer TL-MR3040 is the
>    same device, but with a large lithium battery.
>
>
> On Fri, Jul 26, 2013 at 8:36 PM, Seamus Tuohy <s2e at opentechinstitute.org>wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> On 07/24/2013 07:09 PM, Chris Ritzo wrote:
>> > On 07/24/2013 05:44 PM, Ben West wrote:
>> >> A friend pointed me to this Kickstarter for LibraryBox:
>> >>
>> >> "LibraryBox is an anonymous fileserver based on cheap hardware that
>> runs
>> >> on little power and serves files to any wifi-enabled device with a
>> >> browser. It is a fork of the Open Source project PirateBox, altered to
>> >> be more comfortable to use for libraries, educators, and anyone else
>> >> that has a need to serve files in locations that lack reliable,
>> >> unfiltered connectivity with the Internet."
>> >>
>> >> http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/griffey/librarybox-20
>> >> http://librarybox.us/
>> >>
>> >> The photo suggests a TP-Link TL-MR3020 or TL-WN703N, indeed with an
>> >> itty-bitty flash drive in the USB jack.
>> >>
>> >> Likewise, I'm about to deploy my 2nd TL-MR3020 as a repeater node for
>> >> WasabiNet, having finally squeezed enough of the firmware into 4MB to
>> >> get mesh + AP + coovachilli all onboard.
>> >>
>> >> It is neat to see a low-cost platform like the TL-MR3020, whose
>> intended
>> >> use as "3G travel modem" is kinda worthless, but which nevertheless
>> >> enables quite a diversity of community wifi projects.
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> Ben West
>> >> http://gowasabi.net
>> >> ben at gowasabi.net <mailto:ben at gowasabi.net>
>> >> 314-246-9434
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> _______________________________________________
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>> >> Commotion-dev at lists.chambana.net
>> >> https://lists.chambana.net/mailman/listinfo/commotion-dev
>> >>
>> >
>> > I met Jason Griffey who is the developer of LibraryBox. One of his
>> > features for the next version is "mesh networking". I'm wondering if the
>> > work folks have done on "appropriate box" would be useful to share.
>> >
>>
>> The appropriate box was also inspired by David Darts pirate box (which
>> this is a fork of). It looks like he still uses python in his
>> implementation. We decided to package the features we wanted in a LuCI
>> package to save room. I would be interested in a conversation to see
>> where he is going with library box, and possibly learn from each others
>> explorations in this arena. It might be worth reaching out.
>>
>> s2e
>> _______________________________________________
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>> Commotion-dev at lists.chambana.net
>> https://lists.chambana.net/mailman/listinfo/commotion-dev
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Ben West
> http://gowasabi.net
> ben at gowasabi.net
> 314-246-9434
>
> _______________________________________________
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> Commotion-dev at lists.chambana.net
> https://lists.chambana.net/mailman/listinfo/commotion-dev
>
>
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